A poem/a prayer written from the center of the urban minefield in Minneapolis, MN, by a young man named Steffon Ware.

Here are a number of ideas about ways congregations can nurture ministry in daily life, as reported in a survey conducted by the Division for Ministry of the ELCA. These suggestions are not just theoretical. The congregations have used them in practice. they occur within existing congregational structures and programs (e.g., confirmation, worship, adult education) and are not "add-ons."

The following information is made available for those who desire to become Mission Partners for the new Lutheran congregation in Eau Claire. It is also one example of starting a new church that might be useful to others who are preparing to do the same in other places. This is a .ZIP file which includes all the RTF's and graphics with an .html file that can help make looking through all the files easier.

Use this as a tool to name Seniors Groups that have weekly/monthly meet ups within the congregation.

Purpose: To develop a congregational culture that involves the whole people of God in mission and ministry.

How do you measure a congregation? What is the standard of vitality and utility?

Here are a number of ideas about ways congregations can nurture ministry in daily life, as reported in a survey conducted by the Division for Ministry of the ELCA. These suggestions are not just theoretical. The congregations have used them in practice. They occur within existing congregational structures and programs (e.g., confirmation, worship, adult education) and are not "add-ons."

A series of "LISTENING POST" meetings are designed to gather members together, eat together, and talk about faith in life at the Church. The atmosphere will be set to encourage lively conversation, the hope is that heartfelt information will be shared, and the dream is that we will discover some core truths about the Church.

Our congregation has a large number of retired people who escape to the south every winter, for periods from one month to six. After we spent a winter up north in a building project and snowbirds returned feeling left out of the process, I decided to e-mail snowbirds each winter. Even though they may access the church website and receive the newsletter, my e-mails add a slice of daily (or weekly) congregational life. I send on prayer requests and follow-ups, tidbits of good news, and an occasional weather update or comments on community happenings.

The need for partnership between African countries and world's richest countries cannot be overemphasized. So is the need for a similar cooperation between churches in Africa and churches in the rich countries. However, as the research has shown, ours is rather a relationship of interdependency. We need one another on our journeys so that we can walk together as we journey with Christ on the road to Emmaus. Our partnership shall help us to renew each other in our faith journey. As African churches face their challenges, they can count on their partners in the rich nations to be there for them.